Web home: Project Management Professional homepage.
Requirements: The PMP requires five years of project management experience and 35 hours of project management education with a Bachelor’s degree. Those numbers are three years and 35 hours of education with a high-school degree.
Cost: $400 for Project Management International (PMI) members. For non-members, the cost increases to $555.
Test Information: The PMP test consists of a single test, with 200 multiple-choice questions. Candidates have four hours to complete the test.
Expiration: The PMP is valid for three years. In addition, certification-holders need 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) .
Online Resources
- PMHub. As the name implies, the PMHub is a clearinghouse for PMP information. It includes forums, blogs and even a store for buying PMP prep materials.
- PMForum. A moderately active forum with a lot of members – more than 1,700 at last count.
- IT Toolbox. The IT Toolbox has a large project management site, including a good forum; but it also has other resources, including project leadership, project implementation and business strategy forums.
- PMP Self Study Group. There’s a lot of information here, including study groups (fairly active.) One of the nice things about this site is that there’s a lot of video available.
- 'All About PMP' blog. This blog, started by a writer who identifies him- or herself as Raja, has some good advice and resource links. The blog hasn’t been updated for a long time, but the information is still current.
About the Project Management Professional: The PMP is by far the most well-known and highly-regarded certification for those in the project management field. The company that manages the credential is the Project Management Institute (PMI).
The PMI has been adding project management specialties over the years, including both lower and higher level certifications, but the PMP remains the Gold Standard. One reason is that the eligibility requirements are high; you can’t even sit for the exam without at least three years of project management experience.
Evidence continues to mount that project management is a swiftly growing segment of IT. If you’ve done project management in the past and want to go further, consider getting your PMP certification.